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Best Ways To Celebrate Hanukkah In Detroit

Also known as the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah celebrates the miracle that allowed a single night’s worth of oil to burn for eight full nights during the Maccabbean revolt of the second century. The word Hanukkah means “to dedicate” and commemorates the Jewish people’s regaining control of the temple in Jerusalem and rededicating it to Judaism. In modern times, Hanukkah is a chance for members of the Jewish faith to reaffirm the freedom to practice their religion and to rededicate themselves to their faith.

Kick off the festival of lights at the B’nai Moshe Chanukah party. Bring your family menorah and join other families in lighting the first candle. Enjoy music of the season as you mix and mingle with other families. Participate in games and activities for all ages and win special Chanukah prizes. A light dinner and dessert are included in the price.

Bais Chabad Torah Center once again brings four magical days of Chanukah celebration to the Orchard Mall. The celebration includes arts and crafts for kids and adults, games, demonstrations and educational information. An evening event honors the festival of lights with a giant menorah lighting ceremony, choral performance, hot drinks and traditional snacks such as latkes and fried donuts. Events are held both during the day and in the evening to accommodate school and work schedules and allow the whole family to celebrate the wonder of the holiday.

Celebrate the festival of lights with the second annual lighting of the menorah at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit. The six-foot-high ice sculpture, sponsored by The Shul in West Bloomfield, will stand in Cadillac Square. Sufganiyot, the traditional Hanukkah deep-fried jelly donut, and hot soup will be served after the lighting. The family friendly event is open to the public, both those wanting to celebrate their Jewish faith and those interested in learning more about the miracle of Hanukkah. Campus Martius will stay open after the ceremony for music, games and ice skating.

Join The Klezmatics for an evening of expressive klezmer music honoring the Hanukkah season. The world-renowned group has won high praise for its ability to maintain the traditional Eastern European Jewish music while integrating styles and themes from around the world, both contemporary and ancient. Its 2006 album featuring previously unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album. The band has won numerous other awards since its inception in 1986. Celebrate the miracle of the lights with a new twist on an old classic.

Jennifer Walker is a freelance writer living in Detroit. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in animal science from Michigan State University. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.